txolops Chapter 11 Gift of a Pen
Chapter 11 Gift of a Pen
In the small courtyard.
After speaking, Meng Qingyi looked at Li Ping with an apologetic look in her eyes.
She had previously warmly invited Li Ping to join the Immortal City, but now she has personally refused to let Li Ping become a guest elder of the Immortal City.
Her inconsistent attitude made her feel quite embarrassed.
But remembering her senior sister's instructions, she still said firmly, "With Fellow Daoist Li's talent, there must be a more suitable place to settle down than Immortal City."
Li Ping was somewhat taken aback. He was about to refuse, but before he could even utter the words of refusal, Meng Qingyi preemptively said that she would refuse his application to join the Immortal City.
However, his surprised expression only lasted for a moment before he quickly returned to normal: "That's fine too. The further away from this murky water of Immortal City, the better."
Seeing Li Ping's astonished expression, Meng Qingyi sighed inwardly. She knew that Li Ping was a rogue cultivator who had exhausted all his savings just to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and he didn't even have a cultivation method after that.
Now that he can't become a guest elder of the Immortal City, let alone the cultivation techniques after Foundation Establishment, even the spiritual land needed for cultivation would probably be a considerable problem for him.
Thinking about this, she felt even more guilty.
Ultimately, Li Ping did nothing wrong.
……
Li Ping said with a wry smile, "What happened to your junior nephew has even affected your senior sister's attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage. Even if you hadn't said anything, Fairy Meng, I would have been too embarrassed to join the Immortal City anymore. Please, Fairy Meng, send me away from Azure Dragon Mountain!"
Upon hearing Li Ping's words, Meng Qingyi unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly out of some sense of compensation.
She then said quite sincerely, "Although you are not a member of my Immortal City, you have established your foundation here, which means you have some connection with the Immortal City. Qingyi also holds a certain position in the Immortal City. If you encounter any problems in the future, you can come to me. It's not a troublesome matter, and I can also give you some advice."
Upon hearing this, Li Ping's heart stirred.
To be honest, there was something he really wanted to ask Meng Qingyi for help with.
Meng Qingyi not only reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, but she was also a mid-grade second-tier talisman maker, making her the only cultivator Li Ping knew with second-tier cultivation skills.
Moreover, after receiving guidance from Meng Qingyi, he made a breakthrough in talisman-making skills and became a first-class high-grade talisman maker.
However, his inheritance as a talisman maker is only up to the first-tier high-grade level, so he has reached the end of his journey as a talisman maker on his own.
Inheritances of the second tier and above are highly prized by all major powers, and they are generally not offered for sale.
At that time, he thought of obtaining the second-hand talisman pen that Meng Qingyi had used, to nourish the Tree of Inheritance.
In this way, he can also master the second-tier mid-grade talisman-making technique and become a second-tier mid-grade talisman-maker.
However, at that time, the relationship between the two was still very distant, and he did not want to make such a presumptuous request.
But now, Meng Qingyi seems to feel guilty towards him... Perhaps he could give it a try?
With that thought in mind, Li Ping no longer hesitated. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"You're too kind, Fairy. Yesterday, your guidance helped me reach the first-tier superior level of talisman-making. If I had tried to improve on my own, I'm afraid I would still be far from breaking through. I am only grateful to you, Fairy," Li Ping said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Meng Qing also couldn't help but feel a little surprised: "You've become a first-tier high-grade talisman maker? Congratulations, fellow Daoist!"
Li Ping nodded, took out the Azure Thunder Talisman he had drawn the night before from his storage bag, and handed it to Meng Qingyi with a smile, asking her to evaluate and give him some pointers.
Meng Qing also took the talisman, and after observing it carefully for a moment, pointed out several problems with Li Ping's calligraphy.
It must be said that she truly lives up to her reputation as a mid-grade second-tier talisman maker. The problems she points out are always spot on. If other talisman makers were to receive her guidance, their success rate in talisman making might increase significantly.
Of course, Li Ping has a lineage tree, so his success rate in crafting talismans of the same level is fixed at 100%, which doesn't bring him much benefit.
After chatting for a few more minutes, while Meng Qingyi was still engrossed in her conversation, Li Ping made his request: "Fairy Meng, after my breakthrough in talisman-making skills, I should have replaced it with a superior-grade talisman brush. However, I almost emptied my savings to prepare for Foundation Establishment, and now I simply cannot afford a new talisman brush or magical artifact."
He said sincerely, "I wonder if the fairy has any discarded second-hand talisman brushes? I am willing to buy them at a reasonable price."
"Is that so?" Meng Qing also knew that Li Ping was not lying. As a rogue cultivator, even if he had some fortuitous encounters, buying a Foundation Establishment Pill would have almost emptied his savings.
It's perfectly normal that people can't afford talisman brushes or cultivation techniques these days.
"It's a pity that Senior Sister Dai spoke up, otherwise... sigh!"
Meng Qingyi already felt guilty towards Li Ping, and after instructing Li Ping on talisman-making techniques and indulging in the experience of being a teacher, he had a good impression of Li Ping and immediately decided to help him.
After thinking for a moment, she patted the storage pouch at her waist, and a talisman pen emitting a faint spiritual pressure appeared in her hand. The pen handle was bluish-purple with a red tip, and it seemed to be made from the hair of some kind of demon beast.
Meng Qingyi held the pen in her slender hand, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes: "Fellow Daoist Li, this 'Purple Phoenix' is a talisman pen that I once used. It reached the mid-grade of the second rank, but due to excessive use, the nib is somewhat worn, which has significantly reduced the success rate of drawing second-rank talismans. However, if you use it to draw a high-grade first-rank talisman, it should be no problem."
She smiled and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Li has a request, I will give you this Purple Phoenix Talisman Brush for free."
"Give it to me?" Li Ping asked, sounding extremely surprised.
The talisman pen is also a magical artifact, but as a production-oriented magical artifact, it is naturally not as expensive as flying swords or shields of the same level.
Regardless, a new mid-grade second-tier talisman brush would cost around three or four hundred spirit stones. Meng Qingyi's 'Purple Phoenix' talisman brush was somewhat worn, but selling it for one hundred spirit stones wouldn't be a problem.
The other party just gave it to him like that?
But in reality, Li Ping was wrong.
The second-tier talisman paper and ink needed to make second-tier spirit talismans are very expensive.
Once the talisman brush wears out, causing a decrease in the success rate of talisman making, it will not only affect the income from talisman making, but in severe cases, it may even lead to losses.
Therefore, second-tier talisman makers will promptly replace their talisman brushes once they are worn out.
Second-hand talisman pens that are discarded can't be sold for much, only fetching a price similar to low-level talisman pens. This is what makes talisman makers different from other professions.
……
Li Ping was initially worried that he might not be able to afford a second-hand talisman pen.
Now that Meng Qingyi is giving it to him for free, he certainly won't refuse her kindness.
Taking the talisman brush that floated before him, Li Ping couldn't hide his joy: "Thank you so much for the brush, Fairy. Consider it a favor I owe you!"
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the talisman brush in his hand, and he saw a line of characters appearing above it.
[A talisman brush imbued with the skills of a mid-tier second-level talisman maker, 1000 low-grade spirit stones, three liters of mid-tier second-level talisman ink, and three feet of mid-tier second-level spirit wood. Used as nourishment, it allows one to master mid-tier second-level talisman-making skills.]
"We've struck it rich!"